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Post by toshfan on Aug 8, 2022 10:03:02 GMT
I refereed in a number of different counties last season ranging from Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Vale of Glamorgan, RCT, Bridgend and Cardiff. The maintenance of pitches was its worst in Cardiff. I had good experiences at the others. If you live in Cardiff or care about grassroots football, please do support efforts to lobby Cardiff Council to do better. Here is a tweet from yesterday: A RT would be appreciated. Here is a history of reporting this last season too: twitter.com/search?q=%40CardiffCouncil%20%40Toshfan44&src=typeahead_click&f=live |
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Post by talyfan on Aug 8, 2022 10:54:28 GMT
Should see the state of them up North. Either sold off for housing, become a quagmire in the Winter and a glorious beach in the Summer!
Secondary school pitches I found are well maintained but barely used half the time, could be better utilised to support local community grassroots football.
Theres a school by me which has 3 football pitches, 2 rugby pitches and just sits there hardly getting used other than maybe a dozen school games a year tops and sports day.
Instead local clubs which are 7 junior sides and 2 men's sides share one usable pitch on a Saturday. At one point use to have 4 men's sides and a Sunday team too.
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Post by johnoster on Aug 8, 2022 12:39:37 GMT
It's difficult because councils don't have the resource any more.
I run a local football club, and despite our pitch being council owned, we've maintained it ourselves for the last 10 years.
Can't even get private firms to cut the grass for us as they're all too busy.
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Post by toshfan on Aug 9, 2022 8:50:40 GMT
It's difficult because councils don't have the resource any more. It goes without saying that I accept the funding challenges facing Local Government and the inevitable hit that discretionary services take. But the variable that you are missing it that all surrounding Councils are doing a much better job at maintaining pitches than Cardiff Council. I have praised the Vale of Glamorgan Council more than once for the job it did last season. |
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Post by johnoster on Aug 9, 2022 12:27:23 GMT
And the other councils are likely doing worse at funding areas that Cardiff are doing well at.
It's to do with priorities, and possibly the capital city has different priorities than other council areas.
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Post by toshfan on Aug 9, 2022 12:46:42 GMT
And the other councils are likely doing worse at funding areas that Cardiff are doing well at. It's to do with priorities, and possibly the capital city has different priorities than other council areas. What do you suggest? Accept it? Say nothing further? Beyond priorities, no doubt you are fully aware that Clubs pay to rent pitches. I believe that they need to do better at complaining formally when let down. |
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Post by gwernybwch on Aug 9, 2022 17:46:32 GMT
johnoster is right. Different councils have different priorities. To get anything done with Councils you have to understand the desires of those that are elected to represent the area (which isn't necessarily the same as the desires of those that live in the area). In Powys the Councillors are mostly of a certain age. The council bowling greens there are immaculately maintained. Funny how so much money is spent to please so few isn't it? If there was any justice a playing area which is used by hundreds of kids would be top of their list. But the activities of white working class kids isn't what the 'Metropolitan Socialists' running Cardiff Council spend their days thinking about. Try and think about an angle which would meet their motivations, interests or desires of the Councillors and you have got a chance of changing things.
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Post by johnoster on Aug 12, 2022 11:31:43 GMT
And the other councils are likely doing worse at funding areas that Cardiff are doing well at. It's to do with priorities, and possibly the capital city has different priorities than other council areas. What do you suggest? Accept it? Say nothing further? Beyond priorities, no doubt you are fully aware that Clubs pay to rent pitches. I believe that they need to do better at complaining formally when let down. I think acceptance of the fact that you'll get nothing from the council is a good start. Clubs need to look at alternatives. We have taken over the lease of our pitch and facilities, and are pursuing FAW and other grants in order to help maintain the pitch ourselves. Ideally the council would maintain our pitches. Realistically this isn't going to happen, so we look to the FAW. |
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Post by toshfan on Aug 12, 2022 17:40:48 GMT
I have some sympathy with your line of argument. I do think where clubs can take control over their own facilities they will typically do better than the Council. It is not feasible for many grassroots clubs. I am not convinced that those clubs not looking to be promoted up the Tiers would even pool resources to offer an alternative. I think acceptance of the fact that you'll get nothing from the council is a good start. That is factually wrong. On 2 occasions my complaints have led to refunds for clubs. It has not resolved the ongoing problem but my approach has achieved outcomes just not where I want to be. I won't give up. I genuinely wish your club well with all of that. In the Vale of Glamorgan it does happen. Last season it happened to a high standard. It can be done. It should be done. What needs to happen in Cardiff is for more to join me in taking action. Clubs need to register complaints formally. They are key to this but Referees like myself also need to play a part. I accept without reservation that different Councils have different priorities. But none of these priorities allow services that are being paid for not to be delivered on. |
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Post by johnoster on Aug 18, 2022 12:50:40 GMT
Keep us updated mate.
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Post by toshfan on Aug 18, 2022 14:40:30 GMT
I have raised a formal complaint and I expect a response by 12th September.
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Post by talyfan on Aug 19, 2022 8:41:20 GMT
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Post by toshfan on Aug 19, 2022 11:15:07 GMT
Diolch Talyfan. The Council do not explain in the article why they do not believe that the cost of replacing posts comes down to them? It is a worry.
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Post by toshfan on Oct 28, 2022 10:53:41 GMT
Anyone a Cardiff resident or play football regularly on Cardiff pitches? If yes, please see this thread and do listen to the answer from the Cabinet Member:
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Post by toshfan on Oct 28, 2022 15:37:49 GMT
I have raised a formal complaint and I expect a response by 12th September. Response still outstanding despite chasing. |
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